- A
Amazon EC2 + RDS MySQL
Why wrong: EC2 and RDS require server management (instance types, scaling configuration, patching) — this is not a serverless architecture.
- B
AWS Lambda + API Gateway + Amazon DynamoDB on-demand
Lambda handles compute serverlessly, API Gateway provides HTTP routing, and DynamoDB on-demand mode scales automatically with zero capacity management — a fully serverless stack.
- C
AWS Fargate + Amazon Aurora Serverless
Why wrong: While Aurora Serverless is serverless for the database, Fargate still requires container definitions and task management — it's less serverless than Lambda for simple web APIs.
- D
Amazon EC2 + DynamoDB on-demand
Why wrong: EC2 requires server management — the compute layer is not serverless even though DynamoDB is.
CLF-C02 Cloud Technology and Services Practice Question
This CLF-C02 practice question tests your understanding of cloud technology and services. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company wants to implement a serverless web application with no server management. They need a database that scales automatically without managing cluster capacity. Which combination best supports this?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
AWS Lambda + API Gateway + Amazon DynamoDB on-demand
AWS Lambda + API Gateway + Amazon DynamoDB on-demand provides a fully serverless architecture where Lambda handles compute without server management, API Gateway serves as the HTTP endpoint, and DynamoDB on-demand scales automatically based on traffic without requiring capacity planning or cluster management. This combination meets the requirement for zero server management and automatic scaling of the database.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Amazon EC2 + RDS MySQL
Why it's wrong here
EC2 and RDS require server management (instance types, scaling configuration, patching) — this is not a serverless architecture.
- ✓
AWS Lambda + API Gateway + Amazon DynamoDB on-demand
- ✗
AWS Fargate + Amazon Aurora Serverless
Why it's wrong here
While Aurora Serverless is serverless for the database, Fargate still requires container definitions and task management — it's less serverless than Lambda for simple web APIs.
- ✗
Amazon EC2 + DynamoDB on-demand
Why it's wrong here
EC2 requires server management — the compute layer is not serverless even though DynamoDB is.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'serverless' with 'managed services'—for example, assuming Amazon RDS or Aurora Serverless are fully serverless when they still require some capacity management or have scaling limitations, whereas DynamoDB on-demand truly eliminates all capacity planning.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DynamoDB on-demand uses a pay-per-request model where throughput scales instantly to handle traffic spikes without provisioning, unlike provisioned capacity which requires manual adjustments. API Gateway integrates natively with Lambda via proxy integration, passing the entire HTTP request to the function, and Lambda scales horizontally by running concurrent executions in response to each request, making this architecture ideal for unpredictable workloads like a web application with variable traffic.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CLF-C02 question test?
Cloud Technology and Services — This question tests Cloud Technology and Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: AWS Lambda + API Gateway + Amazon DynamoDB on-demand — AWS Lambda + API Gateway + Amazon DynamoDB on-demand provides a fully serverless architecture where Lambda handles compute without server management, API Gateway serves as the HTTP endpoint, and DynamoDB on-demand scales automatically based on traffic without requiring capacity planning or cluster management. This combination meets the requirement for zero server management and automatic scaling of the database.
What should I do if I get this CLF-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This CLF-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CLF-C02 exam.
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